The special 90-minute season premiere drew 2.8 million total viewers and also averaged 1.4 million viewers in the Adults 18-49 demographic, 1.3 million in Adults 25-54, 1.1 million in Women 18-49, and 999,000 in Women 25-54. It also earned a 1.9 Household rating.

Dance Moms' third-season premiere represented a 33% increase in total viewers compared to last June's debut of the show's second season. It was also up 27% in the Adults 18-49 demographic, 45% in Adults 25-54, 26% in Women 18-49, 41% in Women 25-54, and 19% in Households versus the second-season premiere.

Lifetime also aired a special sneak peak of Double Divas, a new lingerie shop reality series the network will premiere on January 10, immediately followingDance Moms' third-season premiere and it averaged 1.5 million total viewers.

Last year,Dance Moms' second season was the No. 1 unscripted cable series in its Tuesday 9-10PM ET/PT time period in the Women 18-49 and Females 2+ demographics.